I feared the worst - Clichy

Sunday 27 January 2008 00:09 BST

Arsenal defender Gael Clichy admits he feared his season could have been over after being flattened by Kevin Davies' tackle last week.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was left seething when Davies' two-footed challenge at the Reebok Stadium received only a yellow card from referee Steve Bennett, but left the full-back unable to play on with a badly bruised shin.

"I couldn't move, the doctor could not touch it and we have lost a player like this, so that's on your mind," said Clichy. "I have been really lucky on this challenge. I am lucky to be here and to be playing on Saturday."

Clichy maintains Davies should have been shown a straight red card and that such tackles are indefensible.

"I have seen it again many times. The only thing I can say is that it was a stupid challenge," Clichy told Arsenal TV Online.

"I don't understand how people can say it's a good challenge.

"I don't the blame the referee and it's difficult for referees, but we had a meeting at the start of the season with the referees and they were saying that bad challenges would be punished with a red card.

"He [Davies] got the ball of course, but to allow a player like this to carry on playing is really difficult."